The dining options in Buenos Aires are endless. The city offers world-class cuisine in both Argentinean and international restaurants at a great value. This is a city that takes dining seriously, meals can easily last a few hours. No one here starts eating until 9pm. As a main course they usually have an asado, a barbecue of excellent quality beef. Beef is the dominant meat, and comes in many forms such as: bife de chorizo (sirloin steak), costillas (veal ribs) or empanadas (meat pies). The most fashionable restaurants and bars are in Palermo Hollywood and Palermo Soho, where you will find fine dining in a bohemian setting. The various restaurants and bars that serve food in the area of Plaza Serrano are popular among tourists and locals, too. In Puerto Madero, you can enjoy excellent restaurants with spectacular views. Recoleta and San Telmo are mainly famous for their traditional restaurants and cafés, being on the map for many years now.
An increasing number of vegetarian restaurants and organic foodshops have opened over the past few years. Italian favorites, such as gnocchi (ñoquis), and all kinds of pasta can be found abundantly. Exquisite Argentine ice cream (helado) deserves a special mention – again reflecting Italian influences.
Local wines, especially red wines, are excellent and have very reasonable prices. Mate, the traditional gaucho drink, is widely popular among porteños. The national deserts are dulce de leche, a milk jelly, and alfajores – Argentinean sweets made with dulce de leche and chocolate.
Argentineans are always in for a coffee and they particularly like to take some time out to have medialunas with café con leche, read the daily papers or discuss politics over a cortado. Many cafés have witnessed important cultural moments and figures of the country and form an important part of its cultural heritage. For their distinctive architecture or history they have been titled as cafés notables (protected by law) and still recall the glory days of Buenos Aires. Alternatively, you may enjoy the unhurried rhythm in one of the cafés recommended by NY Times.
